Local Sports

Eagle seniors built a foundation

CANFIELD - Every football team in the area knows that lining up across from South Range is a task that few can handle.

United’s football team viewed it differently on Friday in the Div. VI, Region 21 semifinal.

“There was just happiness,” United senior Wyatt Heaver said. “I was happy that we made it this far. I gave it everything I could. I had no regrets.”

After the 56-7 loss to South Range, the Golden Eagle seniors finished their high school career going 38-8.

“This senior class, winning-wise, is the No. 1 class in United history,” United coach D.J. Ogilvie said. “As a head coach I’m very proud of them. It’s a great group of kids.”

United had come into Friday’s game as winners of 17 out of the last 19. The two losses in that time frame were by a total of four points. The loss to the Raiders was the biggest margin of defeat since a 65-0 loss to Southern Local on Oct. 18, 2019.

The game served as a reminder that it can take a long time to build a program up to an elite level.

“I told our kids that South Range was in the playoffs for a long, long time before they were getting to the level they are at,” Ogilvie said. “That’s what we’re striving for every day in the weight room. Some day when we get there this senior class will have been a big part of (mapping that) road on how to get there.”

South Range played a total of 11 playoff games when it was in the Inter-Tri County League with United from 2006 to 2016. Since being forced to sink or swim as a member of the Northeast 8, the Raiders have played in 33 playoff games.

“Having to play up every week kind off hardens you a little bit,” South Range coach David Rach said. “Our seniors for six years through junior high have played larger enrollment teams in the Northeast 8 and I think that benefits you as long as you are able to stay healthy. It changes the way you prepare. I know, I can tell you it has forced us to change the way we do things in the offseason and the way our operations are in the season as well.”

United had to pull out all the stops to try to make a plan that could give the Golden Eagles a chance to compete. That included starting quarterback Tom Brown in the defensive secondary.

“I enjoy playing defense and I haven’t been asked to all year,” Brown said. “In week 13 I finally get to play. We had a couple players hurt and I had to step in and make plays.”

Brown and Heaver both said they were proud to sign off their careers as the Golden Eagle team that advanced the furthest in the playoffs. It came with a lot of hard lessons along the way.

“One of the roughest games of my career was the loss to Smithville (in the playoffs) last year,” Heaver said. “I was expected that team to go as far as this one. Coming into this year I didn’t expect anything worse. I only wanted to make it better.”

The United senior group that is departing is leaving the program in good shape.

“I only see this program going up,” Heaver said. “The amazing kids and coaching staff we have here, they’re only going up. I hope they make it to week 14, 15 or 16 and win that state championship. I want them to get that 10-0 season like they all talk about.”

GAME NOTES

• In the waning seconds of the fourth quarter, a member of the South Range staff saw a mouse running on the turf and caught it in a towel and released in an area that was out of harm’s way.

• South Range assistant coach Nathan Toy was absent for a good reason. He was busy watching his daughter Anna Toy play in the Div. V state volleyball semifinals at Wittenberg University. The Raiders lost in three sets to Versailles.

• South Range will meet Kirtland at a neutral site in the Div. VI, Region 21 final next Friday. The Raiders and Hornets have met five times in the playoffs, with Kirtland winning the last four. Both previous neutral site games between Kirtland and South Range were played at Niles’ Bo Rein Stadium.

• Counting Friday night, United was involved in eight games with a running clock in the second half this season.